Qualifying for School Admission

To qualify for Canadian School Group admission rates you must:

Represent a Child Care Centre licensed with the Ministry of Children and Youth Services or represent a full-time Canadian educational institution that is not post-secondary and is registered with a provincial Ministry of Education and that is teaching courses/classes from the K-12 Provincial Curriculum

Visit on a weekday during the school year, excluding school holidays (December 25, 2017 to January 5, 2018, March 12 to 16, 2018 and June 29, 2017 to September 7, 2018)

Planning Your Date

You can book a self-guided exhibit hall visit anytime; however, IMAX films, School Programs and special exhibitions often fill to capacity. We recommend that you book programs and films well in advance of your requested date of visit.

Planning Your Arrival and Departure

The IBM School and Tour Group Entrance and reception desk open at 9:15 a.m. Exhibit halls are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The times of your programs, films and special exhibition hall visits will be assigned based on the arrival and departure times you provide. Your first program or film visit may start as soon as 30 minutes after the arrival time you provide. Please provide realistic arrival and departure times and allow at least 30 minutes for check-in. Programs missed that day cannot be rescheduled.

Planning Supervision

Groups will not be admitted to programs, films or special exhibitions without supervisors.Space Missions require a minimum of 2 supervisors.

Supervisors are required to:

Remain with their students at all times

Be responsible for discipline at all times

If a group becomes disorderly during a program, film or in an exhibit hall, the group’s supervisor will be asked to remove the group.

There is no admission charge for required supervisors up to a maximum ratio of 1:2, supervisors to students, for visits without an IMAX film. Additional adults will be charged at the general admission rate.

Code of Conduct

The Provincial Code of Conduct applies to schools visiting the Ontario Science Centre and Shoppers Drug Mart® OMNIMAX® Theatre. Please ensure that your students and supervisors are aware that the following conduct is not acceptable:

Loud, profane or inappropriate language

Sexual harassment

Racial and ethnic discrimination

Disrespectful or physically aggressive behaviour

Conduct which is harmful to the exhibits and displays, or disruptive to other visitors

Storing Belongings

Planning Lunch

The RBC Foundation Lunch Room, with seating for 150 students, is available on a first-come-first-served basis for groups with bag lunches. It is located near the lockers and group reception desk. Additional seating is available in the Procter & Gamble Great Hall outdoors in TELUSCAPE and other designated areas.

The Valley Restaurant is a large cafeteria within the Ontario Science Centre that operates on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved. Please allow a minimum of 45 minutes for lunch if you plan to go to the cafeteria to purchase food. Compass Food Services also offers lunch voucher packages for groups, including take-out box lunches. To arrange, call 416-696-3230 extension #1 or download the Group Lunch Voucher Order Form.

NOTE: Special Exhibition Wildlife Rescue: Stories of Survival has been extended to October 9, 2017. Inventorium runs daily until December 22, 2017 in the Great Hall. These exhibitions are included with general admission.

Payment is required for a minimum of 10 students for exhibit hall only visits.

Payment is required for a minimum of 15 students for each School Program / IMAX film scheduled for your group except for DNA Fingerprinting, which requires payment for a minimum of 20 students.

No payment is required for supervisors up to a maximum ratio of 1:2 (supervisors to students), for visits without an IMAX film or Special Exhibition. Additional adults will charged for admission and IMAX film tickets at the general admission rate.

Prices include all applicable taxes. Programs, prices and policies are subject to change without notice. School Group rates are already discounted. No additional coupons, passes or membership discounts apply.

Admission fees are waived for a support person accompanying a student with a disability. For more information on accessibility at the Ontario Science Centre click here.

Booking Your Visit

For full information on programs, films and pricing, download our Field Trip Planner: a high-quality, printable version. You'll need the free Acrobat Reader to view or print these documents.Due to the volume of calls and the amount of information required, we are unable to process booking requests over the phone.

Confirming Your Visit

Your visit is not confirmed until you have received a written confirmation letter. If you have not received this letter within one week of sending in your application form or calling to modify your booking, please e-mail School Bookings or call 416-696-3140.

Cancelling or Modifying Your Visit

The full cost of your visit as shown on your confirmation will be charged upon arrival unless you notify School Bookings by e-mail or telephone 416-696-3140 of any changes, increases or decreases in numbers, by4 p.m. on the Wednesday of the week prior to the date of your visit.

Paying for Your Visit

Please bring a school cheque, major credit card or cash for the full amount on the day of your visit. School cheques should be made payable to Ontario Science Centre. We cannot invoice schools for payment after the visit. Personal cheques are not accepted. Do not send payment with your application form.

NOTE: For each School Program / IMAX Film scheduled for your group, you must pay for a minimum 15 students except for DNA Fingerprinting, which requires payment for a minimum of 20 students.

Preparing for a Successful Visit

Before your visit:

Check that all details on your booking confirmation are correct and read the cancellation / booking-modification policy.

Consider a pre-visit to the Ontario Science Centre Exhibit Halls. This can help in the planning of your school visit and is FREE upon presentation of a copy of your Canadian School Visit Confirmation Letter and your Ontario College of Teachers card or equivalent Teacher ID (excludes separately priced Special Exhibitions) at any ticketing desk.

Contact

Email:School BookingsPhone:416-696-3140Toll Free: 1-888-696-1110 (ask for School Bookings Office)Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.Due to the volume of calls and the amount of information required, we are unable to process booking requests over the phone. Fax:416-696-3226